We have received reports of the PIT freezing on startup on older versions of Mac OSX, and we are working to resolve the issue. We recommend that anybody who is planning on submitting 2014A proposals install and test the PIT as soon as possible. If you have any problems please submit a HelpDesk ticket at http://helpdesk.gemini.edu.

We have discovered that this problem is caused by a bug in Java version 1.6.0_51-b11-456-11M4508 and can be resolved by downloading the patched Java from apple.

The Gemini observing databases will be be offline for about an hour on Thursday, September 12 while some patches are installed. During this time the Observing Tool fetch/store and file transfers will be unavailable. The new 2013B Observing Tool, which is an optional but recommended update, will be available for download on Friday, September 13. Please check this site for further announcements.

The Gemini observing databases will be offline for several hours while we perform quarterly software updates. Gemini North will be offline on Thursday September 5, and Gemini South will be offline on Monday September 9. During these times the Observing Tool fetch/store and file transfers will be unavailable and web report forms will be offline. The new 2013B Observing Tool, which is an optional but recommended update, will be available for download on Tuesday September 10. Please check this site for further announcements.

During the week of August 19-23 there wil be maintenance to the microwave equipment that connects La Serena to Cerro Pachon. As a result, connections to the Gemini South observing database may be slow or intermittent. If your Observing Tool cannot connect to the database, please try again later. Also, various queue status web pages may not update normally. This work is part of the ongoing Gemini South engineering shutdown. Normal night operations are planned to resume on August 27.

The Gemini South observing database will be offline for about 5 hours in the morning on Wednesday, July 3, for computer infrastructure maintenance. During this period fetch/store and other database services will not be available. Normal service should be restored after 14:00 CLT, but please check the Gemini web site for further updates.